tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post1374866220262337682..comments2023-12-19T02:27:30.112-08:00Comments on Narrative Heiress: Money making? Money saving? Or saving within the spending?Ashley Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15960809269667040621noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-53892477703149291162015-11-04T09:28:37.051-08:002015-11-04T09:28:37.051-08:00I thought a lot about this stuff since writing thi...I thought a lot about this stuff since writing this post. I think if I started going the second hand route I would actually have to have someone mentor me--physically go with me places to give me tips. I think shopping second hand is a skill just like anything else and it is one that has not just taken a back seat in my life --it has no seat in the car. :) Our family NEEDS time with Paul way more than any other thing, so even though I feel a little bit guilty for passing up cost savings trips, I am doing what's right for our family right now. However, I want to keep open-minded--if/when our family culture & needs shift (especially as the boys grow & aren't so physically demanding), I want to explore other ways to provide for our family. Ashley Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15960809269667040621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-12826158593889339072015-11-04T09:22:29.891-08:002015-11-04T09:22:29.891-08:00Sterling, you know what I'm talking about, don...Sterling, you know what I'm talking about, don't you? Don't you think there's more honor attributed to "making do" than "making dough"? I think that's absolute crap, but I do see this shift in our culture, even an animosity for people who make good money. I could go on about that for a while, but I'll stop myself. ;) <br /><br />Yes, I do truly want to focus on my gifts and give others the freedom to do the same. Thank goodness there's such a diversity! Ashley Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15960809269667040621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-9754194715854418652015-11-04T09:19:53.268-08:002015-11-04T09:19:53.268-08:00I love buying things that last too! I think there&...I love buying things that last too! I think there's something to be said for hassle, time, gas, stress, etc for a lot of little okay purchases vs. one good purchase. <br /><br />"Living on less than we need" -- Yes! Have you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad? It's not great writing but there were a few things in that book that are just branded in my mind. One is that my husband and I are always striving to "free up the pie", to spend a lot less than we make a month and to overall feel that freedom between "what we COULD afford" and what "we CHOOSE to spend". That gap there. I think that's what you are talking about too. I feel like everybody should have that space for contentment, peace, and security. I know it isn't always possible, but I feel like it's a good thing to strive for. Ashley Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15960809269667040621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-30155264717935021642015-11-04T09:14:35.964-08:002015-11-04T09:14:35.964-08:00I like that you point out that we choose where we ...I like that you point out that we choose where we are frugal or thrift and where we spend more and that it's okay because everything has a place in the budget. I've done a budget several different ways since getting married 7 years ago, and I've learned that a budget is a must. Even an okay budget is a million times better than no budget because it gives us peace about what we *choose* to spend the money on. <br /><br />"The habit we set as a family was one of intentional spending..." -- that's everything! Thank you for sharing!Ashley Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15960809269667040621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-52144111201242510322015-10-29T09:29:48.747-07:002015-10-29T09:29:48.747-07:00Great observations Ash. We're much better at N...Great observations Ash. We're much better at NOT spending than we are at making money. If I didn't HAVE to, I wouldn't choose to shop at three different grocery stores and buy 95% of what we have second hand. But it's necessary and it helps us get by, so it's worth it.Kaitlin @ More Like Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260649249438520187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-78675689968647566002015-10-28T14:46:31.360-07:002015-10-28T14:46:31.360-07:00This is a fabulous article. I also don't like...This is a fabulous article. I also don't like spending lots of time finding ways to save money. I'm better at making money and yes, sometimes I DO feel bad about that. God does give us all different gifts and it's okay that we enjoy those gifts and use them. It's also okay that our gifts are different. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07007909150330429202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-54073935955106331652015-10-28T14:16:47.081-07:002015-10-28T14:16:47.081-07:00We do a little bit of both - we choose to be a dua...We do a little bit of both - we choose to be a dual income family (because it's still worth it budget wise to do - we bring in what we need on top of pay for good childcare). It allows us some wiggle room in our budget, but also more room to give and save. We don't live extravagantly - we save and purchase things with cash, buy things to last (like the boots I wore out last winter after 4 winters wearing them almost every day and replaced on sale after the holidays). We love our local consignment shop (recently got my husband $400+ worth of replacement shoes for $80 because we know how to work that system well). We focus on living on less that we need so we can be more mindful of how we spend our money, etc.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17904858990740505588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624869368313438635.post-139655045198980862015-10-28T13:31:24.702-07:002015-10-28T13:31:24.702-07:00I love the essential theme of finding what works f...I love the essential theme of finding what works for you as a family. As you point out there are many ways of being thrifty. I am not nearly as thrifty as my sister, but more so than my SIL. They are a dual income family and have less time to think about frugality - and less of a need to do so. I am frugal in places and extravagant in others - but I am mindful about it and work within our family budgets to make it all happen. I will say that when we got married we carried a shocking amount of student load debt (3 masters degrees and 1 PhD between the two of us!), but the habit we set as a family was one of intentional spending and frugality without always going without. I think it still serves us well 15 years later! Dr Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02336808160575357711noreply@blogger.com